An animal welfare watchdog group is asking a federal agency to
investigate and fine Eastern Virginia Medical School for the death of a
baboon that accidentally strangled itself with a chain in a research lab
in February.

Stop Animal Exploitation NOW!, an organization created in 1996 to stop
abuse of research animals, sent a complaint and request for an
investigation to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which enforces
minimum standards for animals in licensed research facilities.

The incident was self-reported by EVMS to the National Institutes of
Health in February. While the baboon was not involved in a federally
funded study, it was born to a mother that was, which prompted the
report to the NIH Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare.

The juvenile male baboon strangled himself on a chain that was used to
secure an "environmental enrichment" device to the cage. He was found
during a routine check about eight to 10 hours after he died.

The NIH Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare concurred with the actions
the EVMS lab took in response to the accident, which included inspecting
all chains, removing those that were too long and encasing all other
chains in thick hosing.

Julia Orr, director of communication for the watchdog group, said the
request for an investigation and a fine was filed in early August.

The organization regularly reviews reports made to NIH and issues
complaints to the USDA in situations where an animal died or was
seriously injured because of actions the organization believes are
negligent.

She said the organization has filed 35 such complaints this year, nine
of which involved primate deaths because of strangulation from devices
or cage door mechanisms.

William Wasilenko, senior associate dean for research at EVMS, said in a
statement Tuesday that the school abides by industry standards and has
adopted more safety measures since the accident. For instance, the lab
now has cages specifically for young baboons with extra safeguards that
prevent entanglement in environmental enrichment toys.